Jacob Zuma trial: All about Thint, the company accused of bribing JZ

These are the people accused of lining Zuma's pockets.

It’s all eyes on the Pietermaritzburg High Court this Friday, as Jacob Zuma and Thint’s illicit relationship is examined once more.

Zuma is back in court after two prior postponements. The previous one in June was pushed back as issues arose over who should pay for JZ’s lawyers. That argument has been settled, and it’s coming off of our taxes. The joy…

We’re going to have a quick recap of Zuma’s role with the organisation and why they are both facing some tough questions in the dock.

Who are Thint?

They are a subsidiary company Thales – a French outfit that provides defence and security technology for governments and military bodies.

Jacob Zuma and Thint: What are they accused of?

When you hear people harp on about Zuma’s “783 criminal charges”, they haven’t exactly got their story straight. Jacob Zuma is actually facing 18 charges of corruption and fraud. But Thint are responsible for the “783” figure which is widely circulated.

That’s how many financial transactions were carried out between the two parties. Various payments were made to JZ, and one that will be scrutinised in agonising the detail is the alleged payroll they had him on.

Thint are accused of paying Zuma R500 000-a-year to use his clout as the deputy president and prevent any investigations into Thint’s multi-billion rand arms deal. The company were trying to force an illicit agreement over the line and they targeted Zuma – as well as Schabir Shaikh – to help them pull it off.